Ah Long, sampai bila bermaharajalela...

Sabah DAP condemned the tactic of spraying or splashing red paint laced with acid on homes and vehicles of debtors by loan sharks in efforts to persuade them to pay up. Worse if the wrong house is targeted as happened early Tuesday in Taman Ria for the second time in 15 days.

Sabah DAP Treasurer, Fung Kong Win said the house owner, Madam Tan, had complained about the incident when it first happened on Sept.30. She denied having any dealings with loan sharks. The incident recorded by the house's CCTV saw a white car stopping in front of the house and moments later, six plastic packages containing red paints were thrown out into the house yard at about 1.12am.

According to Madam Tan, they had gone to sleep at about 11pm and was shocked to see the mess in front of the house when she was about send her children to school at about 6.30am Tuesday. The paint-laced with acid also damaged a Ninja King and Harrier parked in the front yard of the double-storey semi-D house. The damages to the cars and house have been estimated at RM30,000.

Based on the information on three pieces of flyers found lying on the yard, the perpetrator was actually asking the neighbour of Madam Tan to pay up. Fung said that whether they are loan sharks or legal moneylenders, they should do things properly by going through the proper channel like moving a legal action against the defaulters. "Don't take such drastic action because it is not only wrongful in the eyes of the law but it could hurt people and cause damage to properties," he said. In the case of Madam Tan, "who is going to pay for the damages because she did not even owe them a single sen". He said there are also many other options for the money lenders to "chase" their debts such as through negotiations rather than using thugs tactic. Fung hoped police would investigate the case thoroughly and take necessary action against the perpetrators.